Staff

We are conducting a survey in collaboration with the UK200Group, of which we are proud members of, to help capture feedback from across the UK which they can use to understand how businesses have fared over the past 12 months and their outlook for the future. We conduct this survey every 6 months and it helps us to gauge the market which in turn arms us with insights to develop…

The Court of Appeal has ruled that a commercial tenant had correctly exercised a break clause in its lease despite having left the premises “dysfunctional and unoccupiable”. Stephanie Johnson Senior Associate Solicitor reports on this recent case The break clause provided that the tenant could terminate the lease if it gave “vacant possession of the Premises to the Landlord” on the relevant break date. The lease defined the “Premises” to…

A man has been removed as an executor of his mother’s Will after his brother complained that he was obstructing the administration of the estate. Megan Wilkinson, Associate Solicitor, reports on this recent case. The case involved three brothers; two of them were executors of her will. Following several years of disagreement, one of the brothers raised a petition seeking the removal of the other as an executor. The petitioner…

The announcement of the Government’s plan for reforming social care is a big political news story.  But the costs of paying for care – and getting the care you or your loved one needs – is a very human story which affects increasing numbers of us. Stephanie Johnson Senior Associate Solicitor and Head of our Health and Social Care Team provides an update … The plan reintroduces the 2011 proposal…

The High Court has ruled that a restaurant manager was entitled to be a director and shareholder of a new business he had set up with a married couple. He was also entitled to payments as specified in a contract agreed by both sides. Sam Lyon Head of Corporate & Commercial reports on this recent case. The manager had run a restaurant from premises which were held on a 15-year…

EMPLOYERS need to educate their staff on what constitutes sexual harassment and sex discrimination in the workplace as the Government announces that it will bring in new legislation to protect employees from being victims of such behaviour at work. This is the opinion of leading employment lawyer Joanne Stronach, Head of Employment Law and HR at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, who said sexual harassment and sex discrimination was still a problem…

COLLEAGUES from a leading legal firm took part in two fundraising events over the same weekend to raise money for a local charity. Staff at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors put their best foot forward to raise around £1,300 for Carlisle and North Lakeland Hospice at Home, with donations still coming in. On Saturday, September 11, a four-strong team joined the charity’s Step Up to the Plate sponsored walk along the Hadrian’s…

A landlord has lost its appeal against a decision that it could not impose service charges for certain works because it had failed to consult tenants properly. Natalie Tatton Solicitor reports on this recent case. The landlord owned several flats let on long leases. It carried out various works to the flats and, in 2017, sought to recover the cost from the lessees through the service charge. It applied to…

A disabled employee has lost a discrimination claim after a judge concluded that her employer had made all reasonable adjustments to avoid any disadvantage to her. Joanne Stronach Head of Employment and HR reports on this recent case. The employee, Ms Martin, started working for the employer in 2014. She had several stress-related absences. In March 2017, an occupational health report advised that she had a chronic medical condition exacerbated…

A LEADING legal firm has produced a handy guide for businesses planning for the future. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, who are members of the UK200Group, have created the ‘Top 20 Tips for SMEs’ guide which focuses on practical steps businesses can take. The guide highlights the three key areas that businesses should focus on: their cash, their people and their customers. Commenting on the guide, Sam Lyon, Head of Corporate and…